Sad how we rarely hear second and third versus sung these days, especially the second:

O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
Oh, save us all!

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign;
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen!

Whenever I had pleasure to perform the honourable duty of orderly officer, one of the tasks I would have the barracks' prisoners undertake was to learn the words of patriotic songs such as the National Anthem, Land of Hope and Glory etc. and recite them to the Orderly Officer of the following day.

He was interviewed on Sky earlier and they gave him quite a tough time, not least about why he did not have more important things to worry about. He wore sunglasses and looked like he was enjoying every minute of the attention. He also threw in a few comments about other favourite hymns and anthems for good measure, claiming that Land of Hope and Glory was full of questionable lyrics: 'Do we really want to be 'mightier still' as a country?' he asked. What a toad.

At the risk of offending all believers everywhere, what the feck does a God-botherer know about anything? It's always struck me that having taken a degree in the interpretation of a bunch of pre-historic fairy stories, they are on shaky ground when pronouncing on other matters: there's a certain credibility gap.

Priest refused to let me have Jerusalem at my wedding (it was in Australia - he objected to England being green and pleasant land and not Oz!?) so had I vow to thee my country instead, just as good and theme for rugby world cup which we beat them in!!!!

That same Bishop, while denouncing "I Vow to Thee" as nationlistic racist and xenophobic, is probably quite happy to support the right of radical muslims to blow themselves and as many Isareli's and Christians to Kingdom Come in the name of civil rights and freedoms and fighting the oppressor.

Fukcing lefties have lost the plot, and it's sad to see the Church of ENGLAND denouncing any notion of national pride or a sense of nationality in ENGLAND. FFS!

Before he condemns Land of Hope and Glory he ought to make himself familiar with the words. Arthur Benson wrote the words to Land of Hope and Glory at the time when the Christian religion in the UK was at its peak. It extols our Nation's faith and freedom. It saddens me that truth and freedom in this country are being eroded under Bliar and from the Church comes no complaint.

It was the outcome of collaboration between the composer, Edward William Elgar (1857-1934) and Arthur C. Benson (1862-1925). Elgar had already earned a reputation as a composer with the two Pomp and Circumstance Marches (1901). The first of these appealed so much to Edward VII, that Elgar was commissioned to compose a work for his coronation, later to be known as the "Coronation Ode" (see below). He worked in close collaboration with Arthur C Benson who provided words for the music. It was also suggested that a section of the first Pomp and Circumstance March should also have words and become the climax of the "Coronation Ode". The result is the song "Land of Hope and Glory". The Ode was completed in April 1902 and earned Elgar a knighthood in 1904. The Ode was also performed at the coronation of King George V in 1911.

LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY

Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned.
God make thee mightier yet!
On Sov'ran brows, beloved, renowned,
Once more thy crown is set.
Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
Have ruled thee well and long;
By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
Thine Empire shall be strong.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

Thy fame is ancient as the days,
As Ocean large and wide:
A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
A stern and silent pride:
Not that false joy that dreams content
With what our sires have won;
The blood a hero sire hath spent
Still nerves a hero son.

-- A C Benson

CORONATION ODE

Land of Hope and Glory,
Mother of the Free,
How may we extol thee,
Who are born of thee?

Truth and Right and Freedom,
Each a holy gem,
Stars of solemn brightness,
weave thy diadem.
Tho' thy way be darkened,
Still in splendour drest,
As the star that trembles
O'er the liquid West.
Throned amid the billows,
Throned inviolate,
Though hast reigned victorious,
Though has smiled at fate.

Land of Hope and Glory,
Fortress of the Free,
How may we extol thee,
Praise thee, honour thee?